We frequently receive questions regarding Dr. Dodds’ Canine Vaccination Protocol and thought we would put together a short FAQ to help your dog. We also invite you to explore the section tagged “ Vaccines" on our blog as we have several posts about specific vaccines, viruses, and titers.

Question: The breeder v accinated before nine weeks of age. How do I start y our vaccination protocol now?Answer: Just continue with the regular minimum vaccine protocol of Distemper and Parvo virus at 9 and 14 weeks.

Question: It is difficult to find a veterinarian who gives only the DPV (Nobivac Puppy -DPv ) per your v accination protocol. Can you recommend a vet?Answer: You or your veterinarian can purchase it online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply . Your vet can then administer the shot.

Question: We purchased a puppy from a breeder who only vaccinates for Parvo virus. Should my dog also hav e Distemper?Answer: Your dog does need a distemper virus shot – in fact two doses are needed 3 -4 weeks apart. You can purchase it yourself. The only monovalent, single distemper shot on the market today is NeoVacc-D by NeoTech – available online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply . (Note: y ou can also purchase a single shot of Parvo virus from the same places.)

Question: Are there any methods to stop the potential side effects of vaccine reactions?Answer: You can pre-treat dogs with the oral homeopathics, Thuja and Lyssin, to help blunt any adverse effects of the rabies vaccine. For other vaccines, just Thuja is needed. These homeopathics can be given the day before, the day of, and the day after the vaccine. Some product protocols suggest adifferent regimen for them .

Question: Why won’t m y state take my dog’s rabies titer test so he can avoid the vaccine?Answer: At this time, no state will accept a rabies titer in lieu of the shot. Additionally , a rabies titer does not satisfy any state’s medical exemption clause. For a list of states with m edical exemptions, please v isit The Rabies Challenge Fund. There are currently 1 8 states that officially recognize exemptionsfrom rabies booster, but only on a justified case-by -case basis and following the specific requirements of that state.

Question: What is the point of a rabies titer test if my state won’t accept it as a medical exem ption?Answer: There are two reasons:

Rabies titer results are required by m any rabies-free countries or regions in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced quarantine period prior to entry . Some of these regions are Hawaii, Guam , Japan, St. Kitts and Nevis, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom . Alway s check with thedestination authority to verify the pet importation.

The CDC states that a rabies titer of 0.1 IU/m L or higher is acceptable to protect a person from rabies.Further, the results of the 5-y ear Rabies Challenge Fund Study showed that immunologic mem ory for rabies vaccination remains at or above that level of immunity . This information is helpful for pet guardian peace-of-m ind in areas where clinical rabies cases occur, and the dog or cat is medically exempt from further rabies boosters.

Question: Every year, the titer shows them as low on their distemper antibodies. What should I do?Answer: I do suggest titer testing your dog every three years for both distem per and parv ov irus. Additionally , any measurable titer to either distemper & parvo virus means that the dog has specific committed immune memory cells to respond and afford protection upon exposure. If your dogs consistently have no measurable titer to canine distemper virus, it means mean that they are distemper “non-or low-responders”, an heritable trait where they will never mount immunity to distemper and will always be susceptible. These dogs should not be used for breeding. As non-or low-responders to distemper are rare (1 :5000 cases), my suggestion is that y ou retest at least one of them at Hemopet.

Question: My veterinarian believes any time dogs are in contact with water that they are at HIGH risk for contracting leptospirosis.Answer: Not so. Most Leptospirosis strains (there are about 200) do not cause disease, and of the seven clinically important strains, only four — L. icterohaem orrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippoty phosa, and L.pomonaserovars — are found in today ’s vaccines. So, exposure risk depends upon which serovars ofLepto have been documented to cause clinical leptospirosis in the area where y ou live. You can call the county health department or local animal control and ask.